Power unit system for applying brakes



' April 8; 1947.

E. A. ROCKWELL POWER UNIT SYSTEM FOR APPLYING BRAKES Original Filed Nov. 25, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR y d J gw Q GAIL-k ATTOZNEY 2E & Q 93 ks N. J a l E w i 3 W a? M. Q mu. 5 a @w E s 3.4 4 w M- mw 3 ms Q g M.\ w & w NN n a. NM. g a my 5 Q 9 3* $3 Nmmfi April 8, 1947.

E. A. ROCKWELL POWER UNIT SYSTEM FOR APPLYING BRAKE S Original Filed Nov. 25, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 1947. E. A. ROCKWELL v POWER UNIT SYSTEM FOR APPLYING BRAKES Original Filed Nov. 25, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 7/W/ WEE-a QMN INVENTOR ATTORNEY E! II IH I April 194? E. A. ROCKWELL 2,418,666

POWER UNIT SYSTEM FOR APPLYING BRAKES Original Filed Nov. 25, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR g ut/AG .QM

ATr RN EY April 8, 1947. E. A. ROCKWELL POWER UNIT SYSTEM FOR APPLYING BRAKES Original Filed Nov. 25, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR MQKW( 1 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 8; 1947' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Edward A. Rockwell, West Hartford, Conn.

Serial No. 392,216

32 Claims.

1 My invention relatespartlcularly to a power unit brake system whereby the brakes may be applied to wheels of an automobile or other parts of automotive vehicles, so as to attain certain advantages in the control of the brakes in the use of the automobile.-

The present application is a division of my I pending application upon Hydraulic power system, Ser. No. 242,255, filed November 25, 1938, Patent No. 2,244,317, granted June 3, 1941.

An object of my invention is to provide a power unit system of the above character whereby certain advantages may be obtained in the application of the brakes thereof, owing to the fact that when the manual control of the brakes is not being applied the power unit thereon will automatically apply the braking action. This is advantageous especially in the parking of the automobile. Another object is to enable the brakes to be applied automatically in this way on some of the wheels, thus making it unnecessary to apply the brakes for parking purposes by the usual manual force applied in the operation of the brakes. One of the objects of this arrangement is to enable the brakes to be applied in parking to some of the wheels while not requiring the brakes to be applied to the remaining wheels, although the apparatus is constructed so that in the normal operation of the same the brakes may be applied, if desired, to all four wheels of the automobile. .A further object is to provide a construction in which an effective power unit is provided for these purposes and which, when thrown out of manual control, automatically applies the brakes to the wheels connected thereto so that it is not necessary, during the parking of the automobile, to leave the manual control in the position in which it applies the manual force for the actuation of the brakes. In other words, in accordance with my invention, by merely throwing off the manual control of the power unit the latter is adapted to actuate the brakes to any number of the wheels to which it is connected. This construction adds greater safety in the operation and parking of the automobile, particularly on inclines. Still another object is to provide an improved reverse-modulating valve.

While my invention is capable of embodiment in many diflerent forms, by wayof illustration 1; have shown only certain embodiments thereof in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of a 'hydraulic system made in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the main hydraulic actuating valve;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the same;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal horizontal section through the booster used therein;

- Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section through the relay valve structure therein;

Fig. 6 is a plan view or the same;

Fig. '7 is a horizontal longitudinal section of the automatic pack device contained therein;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of a modified form of the relay valve structure which can be used instead of the relay valve shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the tubular valve thereon; and

Fig. 10 is a cross-section of a hydraulic mechanical operating unit.

In the form of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated a frame I of an automobile chassis or carriage, comprising two longitudinal U-beams 2 and 3 and a transverse U-beam 4. Mounted on the chassis of the automobile, at any desired point accessible to the driver, there is provided a manual control device such as a foot-pedal lever 5 havbracket [2 which in turn is screw-threaded at its rear end to a brake-operating rod I3, a looking nut It being provided to tighten the bracket l2 on the brake rod l3. The link l0 and lever ll provide for longitudinal movement of the yoke 8 when operated by the foot-pedal lever 5. The

bracket I2 is, furthermore, secured by bolts i5 and It to a hydraulic pressure-applying device having a valve housing I1. At its forward end the valve housing l1 has screw-threaded into the same a cap [8 provided with a central opening l9 to receive a plunger 20 which abuts against the end of the lever II. A rubberboot 2|, to prevent the access of dirt, is received at one end in a recess 22 in the cap l8 and at the other end in a recess 23 in the plunger 20. An annular rubber seal 24, such as is shown in Fig. 8, U-shaped in cross section, is also carried in the cap l8 around the plunger 20 to prevent "the leakage of low pressure hydraulic fluid from the valve structure. At its rear end the plunger 20 is received in a slidable head 25 carried within a touranaeec 3 piece cylindrical shell 26 having composite parts 26a. 26bm, 26c and 26d. separated by rubber seals 26e, 26f and 269', within the valve housing' II, the composite cylindrical shell 26 having, also, terminal rubber seals 26k and 26L The slidable head 25 is normally urged in a forward direction by means of a spring 21 which abuts against the same, and after passing through the valve structure is seated within a rear cal 28 screw-threaded in the valve housing Also seated in the rearcap 26 there is a larger and stronger spring 23 which, at its other end, abuts 4 a a U-beam' 4 of the chassis and to which it is se cured by a nut 66. On the bolt 63 there is a baille 56 on the exterior of the head so as to provide access of air to the ports 53 in said head,

which, leadinto the cylinder 6| havingahorsehair'packlng 60 carriedln an enclosure 6| having air openings 62, so as thus to permit the access of air to thecylinder while separating dust therefrom. In the cylinder there is 'a piston against a shoulder 36 on the interior of a tubu diameter which is somewhat less than the diameter of the rear portion of the tubular valve 3| to prevent the hydraulic pressure from pushing the slidable head off said valve seat. However, this diameter of the flattened valve seat 32 is-not made much smaller than the diameter of the rear end of the tubular valve 3|, so as thus to avoid requiring the head 25, and therefore the foot-pedal 5, to change the foot pressure too much in the decreasing or oil modulation control.

The valve housing l1 has a high pressure inlet 34 for hydraulic liquid under any desired'pressure, which may be,'for example, 500 to 1000 lbs. per square inch, and is provided with a low pressure hydraulic liquid outlet 35 and a modulating pressure port 36 for modulated pressure to be supplied for operating the brake or other automobile accessory. The high pressure hydraulic' liquid, after entering the port 34, is received in an annular passageway 31 in the exterior of the cylindrical shell 23c and which is connected by a port 38 to an internal annular passageway 39 which extends to the front end of the shell 260 so as to end in an annular valve seat 40 on the rear of the end of the shell 26b, the edge of the said valve seat 40 being slightly smaller in. diameter than the diameter of the rear end of the tubular valve 3| so as to insure a positive closing of the tubular valve 3| against said valve seat. On the exterior of the tubular valve 3| there is a tapered valve surface 4| cooperating with said valve seat 40 to thus provide a valve which is normally closed to prevent the entry of the high pressure liquid. When, by the movement of the pedal lever 5, the sliding head 25 is moved to the rear to close thevalve against the valve seat 32 and thereafter unseat the valve 4| from the seat 40, the high pressure fluid will then have access through an annular passageway 42 and ports 43 to a longitudinal passageway 44 in the interior of the tubular valve so that the high pressure liquid can then have access to the rear end of the tubular valve 3| and thence to an internal annular passageway 45, radial ports 46 and an external annular passage way 41 in the shell 26d to the modulating pressure port 36. The modulating pressure'thus applied through the port 36 passes by a controlling means including a flexible rubber tube 48 conveying the unyielding fluid to a port 49 in a previously known mechanical operating unit or power device 56. This is of any desired construction but may, for example, be comprised of a cylinder 5| having a head 52 secured by a bolt 53 and yoke 54 to a pivot 55 mounted on the 63 having a rubber seal 64,'said piston 63 being connected by a piston rod 65 to a brake rod 66 by means of ascrew-threaded connecting member 61. Around the piston rod 65 there are the usual bushing 63, rubber seal 69 and rubber boot 10, the ends of which are connected, respectively, to the cylinder 5| and the connecting member 61. This construction is also described in my copending application upon Apparatus for controlling the application of power, Ser. No. 241,312,,

filed November 19, 1938, now Patent No. 2,276,418, March 17, 1942.

vThe brake-operating rod 3 leads to the upper end of a lever 1| having a pivot 12 and the lower end is connected by a slotted member 13 t0 the rod 66. The pivot 12 is comprised-of a shaft 14 on which the lever II is tightly secured, which extends into a Loughead master cylinder I5,

which is an actuating means designed for converting mechanical movement into hydraulic pressure, the details of which form no part of the present invention, and which are utilized as disclosed in the Loughead et al. Patent No. 1,707,063, granted March 26, 1929. The hydraulic pressure produced by the Loughead master cylinder 15 is conveyed by a pipe 16 to a part to perform work or an accessory such as a pair of front wheel brakes 16d on' wheels 76!) through branch pipes 11 and 18 for the actuation of'the front wheel brakes in the usual way. As will be noted, the booster 50 may add additional power to the manual power applied to the lever H by means of the rod 66.

The modulated pressure delivered by the pipe 48 is also arranged to be conveyed by a pipe I9 to a relay valve 8|lthrough a port ill. The said relay valve 80 is comprisedof a casing 82 to the forward end of which there is screw-threaded a shell 83, by means of a coupling member 63a, having a screw-threaded closure 84 arranged to receive a manual actuating rod 85 connected to a head 86 in a sliding sleeve 81 having a venting port 83 adapted to pass over a venting port 83 in the shell 83, these ports 88 and 89 being merely breather openings. The sliding sleeve 81 has at its rear end a vented closure 90 for receiving a valve actuating rod 9| around which there is a spring 92 held on the rod 9| by a retainer washer 93 and a nut 94. The said rod 85 is connected by a yoke 35 and a pin 96 to a spring 31 which in turn is connected by a clamping member 38 to an emergency. brake-operating rod 93 connected to an adjustable manual control device such as a hand lever I06 having a pivot II at a any desired point on the automobile chassis, operward stop I03 in the sleeve 81 and provides anabutment for receiving at the rear thereof a, hydraulic valve-operating plunger I04 tightly asiam I I mounted on a'reduced portion III of the rod II, having a rubber seal I05 at its forward end. The inlet for the modulated pressure II is in the chamber, which is in the rear of the plunger I04, so as to move the plunger I04 in opposition to the high pressure hydraulic liquid conveyed to the other side of the plunger I04 by a passageway I06 which communicates with a high pressure liquid inlet I01 on the valve casing 82. The rear. end of the chamber formed by the plunger I04 is closed by a rubber sealed partition I through which the reduced portion I09 at the rear end of the rod 9| passes so as to abut against a reaction-responsive hydraulically moved modulating relay supply or control valve having a valve member I.!0 reciprocable within an annular member III having ports II2 communicating with an annular passageway I I3 communicating with a low pressure or return inlet II4. The said valve member IIO, which may be, thus, controlled by the hand lever I00, has a flat face II5 which is adapted to seat against a valve seat II6 on a tubular valve member II1 which is constructed the same as the tubular. valve member 3| previously described. This tubular valve member has a, tapered valve element II8 which cooperates with a valve seat II9, the same as in the case of the valve 3| previously described. This valve, through transverse ports I20, gives access for the high pressure liquid to the interior of the tubular valve I I1 from an annular passageway I2I, ports I22, a passageway I23 and the high pressure liquid inlet I01. The high pressure liquid supplied to the port I01 is received from a pipe I24 and the said high pressure liquid is received by the inlet 34 from a pipe I25 having a flexible rubber connection I25a, both of which pipes lead to a high'pressure supply reservoir I26 supplied from a source of power such as a rotary pump I21 driven by an electric motor I28, pressure within the pressure chamber I21 being maintained substantially uniform by means of an accumulator I29 having a series of coil springs acting on a plunger at one end of the high pressure chamber I26. The details of the structure of the accumulator I29, reservoir I26, pump I21 and electric motor I29 do not constitute part of the invention of the present application but are shown in detail in my Patent No. 2,197,772, granted April 23, 1940, as well as my Patent No. 2,136,638, granted November 15, 1938. The low pressure or exhaust liquid discharged by the port I I4 is conveyed by a pipe I3I to the low pressure side of the accumulator I29 and the same is true with regard to the low pressure liquid discharged from the port 35 which is conveyed by a pipe I32 havin a, flexible rubber connection I32a also to said low pressure side of the accumulator I29. The low pressure side of said accumulator is furthermore connected to a flller pipe I33 which leads to a filler reservoir I34 having a pipe I35 connected by a filler pipe I36 to the top of the Loughead master cylinder 15 and by a pipe I31 connected in turn to the low pressure pipe I3I.

The high pressure liquid normally keeps the valve II5, II 6 closed and the valve H8, H9 open due to the high pressure liquid in thepassageway I06 forcing the plunger I04 to the right in Fig. 5, which causes the rod I09 to seat the valve membar I I0 on the valve seat I I6 and push the tubular valve member II1 to the right so that the high pressure liquid passes through the valve I I8, II9,

through the ports I20 and thence through the interior of the tubular valve I I1 and out through p i 6 a couplingmember I30 and a pipe I30 to a port I40 on a fully enclosed differential pressure automatic spring pack device or unitary power unit I provided as a. safety feature and which automatically applies the brakes on the failure of the liquid pressure, and which is mountable on the carriage 2 without thrust therefrom and independently of any fixed position of the unit with regard to the power connection I31 or the brakes. This automatic pack I is comprised of a portion having a hydraulic pressure chamber in a second casing member I42 closed at both ends in which the pressure liquid operates on the forward face of a differential power applying movable wall or piston or plunger I43 and in opposition to a series of pressure accumulating springs I44, so as toretract the same, which normally press the piston I43 forwardly to bring the accessory into operation by applying the brakes. Also, these springs I44 will apply pressure to operate the brakes irrespective of the fluid pressure, while resisting the manual means coordinately to the power exerted. The said piston I43 has a cylindrical reduced extension I45 which is connected by ascrew I46 to a slida-ble springretaining plate I41 on which the springs I44 are supported at one end thereof. Guide tubes I 48 pass through the springs I44 and through the plate I41, said tubes being held in place by rods I49passing through said tubes and screwthreaded at one end in the casing of the chamber I42. At this end centering members I50 on said rods'keep the tubes I48 in place and at the rear end centering plates I5I on said rods also act as abutments for the springs I44. The rods I49 at this end pass through a head I52 which, by means of nuts I53 on the rods I49, hold an enclosing shell I54 in place. On the forward face of the said piston I 43 there is a piston rod I55 which extends through a packing I56 against a plunger contained in another portion or first casing member of the power unit having a pressure-applying Loughead master cylinder I51 and constructed the same as in the Loughead patent Qabove referred to and as shown in the said Loughead patent, except that in this instance, instead of a lever actuation of the Loughead cylinder the end of the piston rod I55 abuts against a work-performing or force-applying fluid actuating piston or plunger I58 in the said Loughead cylinder, the same as the usual plunger contained in the master cylinder 15 above referred. to and in the said Loughead patent. The plungers I43 and I58 act as a pressure-increasing plunger due to their relative areas, so as to deliver a higher hydraulic range of pressures by the latter. The hydraulic liquid for the control of the rear brakes I6Ia, by transmitting the springaction thereto, passes out of the Loughead master cylinder I51 through a port I59 and thence by'a connection including branch pipes I60 and I6I to the operating parts of a part to perform work or an accessory, such as the rear wheel brakes: having brake cylinders I60a with pistons I60b on wheels I6Ib by which I mean to refer, of course, to any wheels located towards the rear and having brakes controlled by the manual means 5. In case of emergency, should it be desired to release the. brakes when they are on, due, for example,'

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown'a modified form of the relay valve structure which, however, operates in'substantially the same manner asthe relay valve structure'shownin Fig. 5, although the valve parts in this instance are somewhat simpler in construction. In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9 there is a relay valve housing I69 having holes I10 and "I thereon for attachment or the housing to any desired .part of the chassis of the automobile. At its forward end there is a screw-threaded cap I12 closing a longitudinal bore I18within the housing in which the valve parts are carried. Said housing, furthermore, at this'end, carries three ports I14, I15 and I16 which are provided for connection, respectively, to the pipes I24, I3I and I39. Within the bore I13 there is located a three-.- piece cylindrical shell I11 having component parts "111, I11b and I11c provided with gaskets I18, I19 and I80, the construction of these parts of the shell and gaskets being the same as in the form of my invention shown in Fig. 3, except in this instance the parts 26a and 26b are combined to form the part of the shell I11a. Within the composite shell I11 there is a tubular valve I8I which is constructed the same as the tubular valve 8| previously described except that in this instance the holes '43 are omitted and four flat areas I82 are located near the end of the valve shown at the right of the tubular valve in Fig. 9. Also, in this instance, within the tubular valve I'8I there is a spring I83 of small diameter and a large spring I84, which springs are arranged and operate like the springs 21 and 24 previously described. The smaller spring I83 normally keeps open a flat valve member I85 cooperating with the adjacent end of the tubular valve I8I to keep the valve member I85 normally away from itsseat I86 on this end of the tubular valve, constructed the same as the valve seat 32 previously described. 'Intermediate its ends the tubular valve I8I has an annular tapered valve member I81 constructed the same as the valve member 4| previously described and which cooperates with a valve seat I88 arranged the same as the valve seat previously described. The forward end of the tubular valve I8I leads to the high pressure port I14, the intermediate valve I81, I88 controls communication with the low pressure port I15, and the valve I85, I86 controls'communication between the interior of the tubular valve I 8| and the modulated pres-' sure port I16. The position of the valve element I85 is controlled by a plunger I 89 passing through an end closure I90 screw-threaded in the housing I69, the said closure I90 acting as a coupling for connecting the housing I69 with a cylinder I9I to which'it is screw-threaded, said cylinder havis connected by a screw coupling I98 to the pipe 19.

In. the operation of the apparatus, referring first to the embodimentof my invention shown in Figs.- 1 to 7, the system having been supplied with the required hydraulic brake fluid through the filler tank I34,flthe apparatus is readyfor the operation of the brakes in the controlof the.

automobile.

It will be noted that the hydraulic brake fluid," which is of any desired character, is supplied by the filler tank I94 to'the Loughead booster 15 as well as the Loughead brake-operating element I51 which is connected to the automatic pack I4I and also the low pressure reservoir accumulator I29, and the said tank I34rece'1ves' the returned lowpressure liquidthrough the pipe I3I from the control or relay valve 80 as well as from the low pressure outlet 35 on the main modulating valve. When the brakes are to be operated, the pedal-lever 5 is moved downwardly to the extent desired and thereby the desired amounts of a modulated high pressure liquid are allowedto pass by the valve 40, 4I and thus conveyed by the pipe 48 to operate the brakes, and'which is coordinated in extent to the amount or the degree of'the pressures exerted manually on the pedallever 5. When this takes place the liquid received by the accumulator I 29 placed under high pressure by the pump I21, is delivered by the pipe I25 therefrom and the outlet valve 25, 32 having been closed and they high pressure inlet valve 40, 4I having been opened manually, the said liquid passes from the port 34 through openings, 36, openings 43 "and passageway 44 to the chamber 45 where thebuilding up of the liquid pressure on the end of the tubular valve 3I will close the valve 40, 4I. unless further liquid is being admitted by increasing manual pressure on the plunger 20. In this way, although power derived from the high pressures is applied to the brakes, the amount of the same is determined by the feel which reacts on the foot through the l pedal lever 5. It will be noted, furthermore, that ing a piston I92 therein to which the plunger I89 by applying the manual pressure to the pedallever 5 the'front brakes are applied manually in any event due to the mounting of the valve casing I1 on the brake-rod I3 and which applies hydraulic pressure from the Loughead master cylinder 15 to the front brakes 16a. This effect is, however, boosted by reason of the modulated pressure delivered through the pipe 48 to the hydraulic booster 50 and thence to the lever H .on the Loughead master cylinder 15. This modulated pressure derived from the pipe 48 is furthermore conveyed by the pipe 19 to the control or relay valve 80. The latter is in one form of actuation, connected to the emergency brake hand-lever I00 in that thereby a pull on the rod 9| through the interposed spring 92 will result in the piston I04 moving to the left to open the valve II5 as shown'in Fig. 5, which is normally shut, due to the relatively large size of the piston chamber 45 can similarly act on the face of the 7 piston I04"to bring about the modulated pressure control and operation oi the said automatic pack, MI and the rear brakes I Iila connected thereto. The modulating valve 3|, and accordingly the modulating relay valve I ll, thus controlthe position of the plunger travel of the piston I43 coordinately with the variations of the pressure of the liquid delivered by said plunger or piston I58. This is accomplished by moving the piston I43 by the increase of volume andpressure of the liquid from the inlet I39 to coordinately control the position of the piston I43 according to said increase of volume. In this operation, the change by increments or decrements of the pressures established hydraulically on the right face of the piston I04 controls the opening of the outlet valve I I5, H6 and closing of the inlet valve H8, H9. When the valve H8, H9 is closed and the valve I I5, IIB opened the liquid passes out from the pipe I39 through the valve H5, H6 to the pipe I3I and back to the accumulator. When the brakes are being applied at a given degree both of the valves II 5, H6 and I I8, I I9 are closed as the decrease of the pressure in the pipe I39 permitted by the particular pres sure on the right face of the piston I04 will continue until the lessened pressure on the face of the valve member IIO causes the pressure on the left face of the piston I04 to move the valve member I I into closed position. In other words, the tubular valve member III operates similarly to the valve member 3| but in the reverse order. It will be noted, however, that either of these types of actuation of the control or relay valve 80 results in a reverse modulation, that is to say in pressure conditions within the pipe I39, which are inversely proportioned or related to the modulated pressure in the pipe I9. In other words, as the pressure admitted through the pine I9 increases, the pressure within the pipe I39 decreases and the pressure in the pipes I60, I6I increases. This enables a safety control or operation of the rear brakes to be attained by reason of the fact that the springs I44 normally press the rear brakes into action through the agency of the Loughead master cylinder I51 which conveys the resultant hydraulic pressure thereto through the pipe I59, and when there is' no manual actuation from the emergency lever I00 nor from the application of modulated high pressure through the pipe I9, the high pressure liquid which is supplied from the pipe I24 normally acts on the front end of the piston I04 to keep the valve I I5, IIB closed and the valve H8, H9 open, admitting the maximum high pressure through the pipe 39 to the interior of the cylinder I42 so as to force the springs I44 in a direction keeping the rear brakes in oil-position. The rear brakes are thus applied to the extent desired by releasing the high pressure in the pipe I39 to the extent desired from the pipe I39 so that the released liquid passes out through the low pressure outlet pipe I 3| back into the filler system. In other words, if there is a breakage or failure of the hydraulic system the rear brakes are automatically thrown into action so as to apply the brakes. If this should occur the rear brakes can be thrown off manually, if desired, by the actuation of the bell-crank lever I54 from the handle I68 on the dash, the eflect of which is to release the hydraulic brake fluid from the port I59 so as to allow it to enter the reservoir which forms a part of the Loughead master cylinder I51.

10' The modiflcatlonof my invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is a modification of the control or relay valve 80. The operation of this modified form or control or relay valve is substantially thesame as in the operation of the control or relay valve except that in this instance, for simplicity, there is shown no emergency brake manual control connected thereto. A further difference in this instance is that the valve I85, I00 is normally open while the valve I87, I88 is normally closed. Consequently, in this instance the high pressure brake fluid which normally keeps the rear brakes IGIa in oil-position 'is received through the pipe I39 leading to the automatic pack from the high pressure pipe I24 and the interior of the valve I8I. Upon actuation of the valve I8I by the modulated high pressure liquid received from the pipe I9 the valve I85. I is closed and the valve I81, I83 is opened so that the amount of the high pressure brake fluid desired to be released is carried away through the low pressure exhaust pipe I3I It will be understood that in all of these mcdulator valve constructions II, 80 and I69 the modulating efiect described in the previously described operation herein takes place, except that in the valves 80 and I69 there is an inverse modulating efiect obtained. These actions 01' the three valves so as to obtain a modulated eilect by the admission or release of small increments of the brake fluid to the extentdesired, in order to obtain the desired degree of high pressure in the on-modulation, can take place likewise and with the same efiectiveness in the ofi-modulation and in an entirely comparable andsimilar manner. In this way, the on-modulation the increasing increments of modulating fluid obtain increasing brake pressures in accordance with the amount of manual pressure applied but at very much higher pressures than the manual pressure itself,

and in the off-modulation by decreasing pressures applied as desired manually, corresponding but very much higher decreasing pressures are obtained on the brakes at will until they are flnally entirely released. At all times, however, the reaction on the foot, through the lever II and pedal 5, of the amount of high pressure liquid manually admitted produces from the chamber 45 on the head 25 a feel, that is to say an amount or reaction pressure coordinate to the extent to which the brakes are being applied. This amount of high pressure liquid applied'to actuate the brakes can be changed manually by increments in the on or oil modulation, as desired, to change the braking efiect, but while the brakes are on after each admission or discharge of an amount of the high pressure liquid, the valves 25, 32 and 40, 4| remain closed until a further change in the amount of high pressure liquid present is made manually by the pedal 5,

While I have described my invention above in detail I wish it to be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the same.

I claim:

1. In combination, a spring device, an accessory operating connection adapted to be brought into action thereby, hydraulic means for retracting said spring, fluid means interposed between the spring device and the accessory operating connection for conveying the spring action to said accessory operating connection, and a manually actuated by-pass for relieving the fluid conveyed to the accessory operating connection upon the failure of said hydraulic means.

2. In combination, a spring device having a fluid actuating piston. an accessory operatng connection adapted to 'be brought into action thereby, hydraulic means for retracting said spring, fluid means interposed between the spring device and the accessory operating connection for conveying the spring action to said accessory operating connection, and a manually actuated bypass forlrelieving the fluid around said piston,

conveyed to the accessory operating connection upon the failure of said hydraulic means.

3 A fluid pressure brake-operating system comprising a manual control device, a set of front wheel fluid pressure brake connections connected to the manual control device, a set of rear wheel fluid pressure brake connections connected to the manual control device, means adapted to apply a variable braking force to one of said sets of brake connections to accordingly vary the extent of the force applied to the other set of brake connections. and a manually operable device adapted to adjustably control the force applied to one of said sets of brake connections.

4. A hydraulic brake operating system comprising a manual control device, a set of front wheel brake-connections connected to the man-- ual control device, a set of rear wheel brake connections connected to the manual control device,

, brake-connections.

5. A hydraulic pressure brake-operating systam-comprising a manual control device, a set of front wheel hydraulic pressure brake connections connected to the manual control device, a set of rear wheel hydraulic pressure brake connections connected to the manual control device, means adapted to apply a variable braking force to one of said sets of brake connections to accordingly vary the extent of the force applied to the other set of brake connections, said means including a hydraulic valve, and a manually operable device operatively connected to the hydraulic valve, adapted to adjustably control the force applied to one of said sets of brake connections.

6. A hydraulic brake operating system comprising a manual control device, a set of front wheel brake-connections connected to the manual control device, a set of rear wheel brake connections connected to the manual control device, a spring pack power unit adapted to normally apply braking force to one of said sets of brake-connections by the spring force of said unit, and a manually operable device adapted to throw out of operation the control by the manual control device of one of said sets of brake-connections while leaving operative the connection between the manual control device and the other set of brake-connections, said last mentioned set of brake-connections leading to the power unit being adapted to be controlled by said manually operable device.

7. A hydraulic brake operating system comprising a manual control device, a set of front wheel brake-connections connected to the manual control device, a set of rear wheel brake connections connected to the manual control device, a power unit adapted to normally apply braking force to one of said sets of brake-connections, and a manually operable device adapted to thr w o t Of operation the connection between the manual control device and one of said sets of brake-connections while leaving operative the connection between the manual control device and the other set of brake-connections, said last mentioned set '01 brake connections having a master cylinder with a by-pass thereon leading to the power unit adapted to be controlled by said manually operable device.

8. A hydraulic brake operating system comprising a manual control device, a set of front wheel brake-connections connected to the manual control device, a set of rear wheel brake connections connected to the manual control device, a spring pack power unit adapted to normally apply brakingforce to one of said sets of brake-connections by the spring force of said unit, and a manually operable device adapted to throw out of operation the connection between the manual control device and one of said sets of brakeconnections while leaving operative the connecv tion between the manual control device and the other set of brake-connections, said last mentioned set of brake connections having a master cylinder with a by-pass thereon leading to the power unit adapted to be controlled by said manually operable device.

9. A hydraulic brake operating system comprising a manual control device, a set of front wheel brake-connections connected to the manual control device, a set of rear wheel brake connections connected to the manual control device,

a power unit adapted to normally apply braking force to one of said sets of brake-connections, and a manually operable device adapted to throw out of operation the connection between the manual control device and one of said sets of brakeconnections while leaving operative the connection between the manual control device and the other set of brake-connections, said last mentioned set of brake connections having a master cylinder with a by-pass thereon leading to the power unit, having a valve in said by-pass, adapted to be controlled by said manually operable device. 1

10. A hydraulic brake operating system comprising a manual control device, a set of front wheel brake-connections connected to the manual control device, a set of rear wheel brake connections connected to the manual control device, a spring pack power unit adapted to normally apply braking force to one of said sets of brake connections by the spring force'of said unit, and a manually operable device adapted to throw out of operation the connection between the manual control device and one of said sets of brakeconnections while leaving operative the connection between the manual control device and the. other set of brake-connections, said last; mentioned set of brake connections having a master cylinder with a by-passthereon leading to the power unit, having a valve in saidby-pass, adapted to be controlled by said manually operable de- VlCe.

- 11. A power unit comprising an enclosing casing for accumulating pressure therein, having a hydraulic pressure-applying plunger in said casing for transmitting accumulated pressureremotely from the power unit for work performance and having a spring and piston therefor associated therewith, said plunger having operatively connected thereto a rod operatively connecting the spring with the plunger in the enclosing casing, a hydraulic inlet chamber through which the rod passes, a hydraulic pressure inlet vice connected to said connecting means to act on it said master cylinder, and means for controlling the power device having an element responsive to the pressure in the pressure delivering means and effecting the operation of the controlling means, said controlling means being constructed and arranged to react on the brake pedal, by an unyielding fluid between them, in proportion to the effective power of the power device.

13. A braking system for an automobile having front and rear wheels provided with sets of brakes for the front and rear wheels, respectively, said braking system being connected to the front and rear wheels, a pedal on the automobile, means for actuating the automobile brakes on one set of wheels, including a master cylinder, means connecting the pedal with the said actuating means, by an unyielding fluid between them, having interposed therein a hydraulic pressure delivering device, a differential pressure power cylinder for actuating the second set of wheel brakes, and a control valve for the power cylinder which is actuated by the pressure that has been received from the pressure delivering means.

14. In combination, an automotive vehicle having a carriage therefor, an automotive accessory, a power unit for actuating the same, located remotely therefrom, manual means remote from the power unit, including a hydraulic pressure-delivering device for controlling the operation of the accessory, a source of power remote from the power unit and means for bringing the accessory into operation by accumulated power within the unit, irrespective of the further accumulation of power from said source, fluid pressure connections from the said delivering device to the power unit and from the unit to the accessory for operating the latter accompanied by resisting the manual means coordinately to the power exerted on the accessory, the connection from the delivering device to' the power unit, having a plunger therein adapted to be moved by the liquid from the pressure-delivering device so as to operate the power unit, the said power unit being constructed to be mountable on the carriage to operate thereon without thrust therefrom, with relation to the carriage in the manual operation of the power unit and the operation of the accessory from the power unit.

15. In combination, an automotive vehicle having a carriage therefor, an automotive accessory, a power unit for actuating the same, located remotely therefrom, manual means remote from the power unit, including a hydraulic pressuredelivering device for controlling the operation of the accessory, a source of power remote from the power unit and means for bringing the accessory into operation by accumulated power within the unit, irrespective of the further accumulation of power from said source, fluid pressure connections from the said delivering device to the power unit and from the unit to the accessory for operating the latter accompanied by resisting the manual means coordinately to the power exerted on the accessory, the connection from the dellverlng device to the power unit, havin a plunger therein and a valve operated by the plunger, adapted to be moved by the liquid from the pressure-delivering device so as to operate the power unit, the said power unit being constructed to be mountable on the carriage to operate thereon without thrust therefrom with relation to the carriage in the manual operation of the power unit and the operation of the accessory from the power unit.

16. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a power unit for the operation and control of an automotive accessory, a source of fluid pressure, and manual means including a hydraulically moved modulating supply valve for controlling the application of said fluid pressure to the power unit, a connection in communication with the source of fluid pressure and the unit, a hydraulic connection from the unit to the accessory, and a hydraulic connection from the manual means to the supply valve for the control of the unit and the accessory subject to a reaction through the hydraulic connections on the manual means from the accessory, said unit including means for the application of hydraulic pressure to the accessory in the event of the failure of the pressure from the fluid pressure source and said unit being operable without thrust from any mounting of the automobile accessory and the other connections.

17. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a power unit for the operation and control of an automotive brake, a source of fluid pressure, and manual means, including a hydraulically moved modulator supplyand release valve, for controlling the application of said fluid pressure to the power unit, a connection from the source of fluid pressure and the unit, a hydraulic connection from the unit to the brake, and a hydraulic connection from the manual means to the supply valve for the control of the unit and the brake subject to a reaction through the hydraulic connections on the manual means from the accessory, said unit including means for the application of hydraulic pressure to the brake in the event of the failure of the pressure from the fluid pressure source and said unit being operable without thrust from any mounting of the automobile brake and the other connections, the brake having a hydraulically operating piston for reaction on the modulator valve. i

18. In combination, a power unit, a hydraulic inlet connection controlling the power unit by the variation in the hydraulic pressure therein, a differential pressure plunger in said unit, having two 'coacting pressure areas for high and low pressure respectively, one of which areas is controlled by the hydraulic pressure received from said hydraulic inlet, a hydraulic outlet connection on said unit, and a modulator valve having a plunger, with two independently operable actuating means therefor, connected to the hydraulic inlet for the control of the differential pressure plunger.

19. A power unit for the operation and control of a part to be moved comprising a manually operable hydraulic mechanism for controlling the unit, a source of fluid pressure connected to the unit, a hydraulic connection from the unit to said part, and a hydraulic connection from the manto said part in the event of the failure of the pressure from the fluid source, and saidv unit being adapted for mounting in a position substantially independent of any fixed positions of .the connecof a part to be moved'comprising a manually operable hydraulic mechanism, including a modulator valve means having "a hydraulic piston for reaction on the valve means, for controlling the unit, a source of fluid pressure connected to the unit, a hydraulic connection from the unit to said part, and a hydraulic connection from the manually operable hydraulic mechanism to the unit for the control of the unit, said unit including means for the application of hydraulic pressure to said part in the event of the failure of the pressure from the fluid source, and said unit being adapted for mounting in a. position substantially independent of any fixed positions of the connection from a source of fluid pressure and the connection from the unit to said part. 1

21. A unitary powerdevice, having two portionsconnected together, one portion having a hydraulic cylinder and pistongtherein, and -the other portion a. force-applying plunger and 'cylinder, said unit having hydraulic inlet and outlet connections, leading to said portions-respectively,

for-the control and operation of the unit, including means for communicating fluid pressure for the power operation of the same, a manually controlled valve on the inlet having a reaction from said outlet, andm'eans, including a rod directly connecting said piston and plunger, interrelated to :both the hydraulic inlet and hydraulic outlet connections determining the extent of attached together, one of said casings containing a plunger and a spring for moving the plunger tooperate apart .to perform work, and the other of said casings including a plunger connected to said first mentioned plunger and having a laydraulic connection to said part and a hydraulic means connected to the first mentioned casing movement'of the piston according to the hydraulic pressures applied to the hydraulic inlet.

22. A power unit having a hydraulic inlet connection, a pressure-increasing plunger provided with two coacting pressure-responsive areas for high and low pressures respectively, a hydraulic outlet connection, and modulating valve having a hydraulic plunger connected to the low pressure area for the control of the pressure-increasing plunger and the pressure of the fluid in the outletconnection.

23. A unitary power device, having a flrst casing member and a piston guided for movement therein. a second casing member larger in diameter than said first casing member and attached to the first casing member, a piston abutment in the second casing member having a springcooperating therewith, a fluid connection to the unitary power device for operating the same, a fluid connection from the first casing member to apart to be moved to perform work, said unitary power device being completely enclosed except for the fluid connections operating the device, and a hydraulically-operated modulating valve, arranged to apply modulated pressure throughout the range of operation of the device, connected to said fluid connection.

24. A unitary power unit, having two casings attached together, one of said casings containing a plunger and a spring for moving the plunger to said casings including a plunger connected to said first mentioned plunger and having a hydraulic connection to said part and a hydraulic means connected to the first mentioned casing for storing up, power in said first mentioned spring to perform work. 1

25. A unitary power unit, having two casings for storing up power in said first mentioned spring to perform work, said first mentioned casing being closed except for the last mentioned connection. 26. A power unit, having a hydraulic inlet connection, a hydraulic outlet connection, a movable plunger mechanism for applying power to the outlet, said movable plunger mechanism comprising a power applying portion, a control portion in connection with the inlet vhaving a cylinder, and a work-performing portion, said work-performing portion being adapted to receive power from the power applying portion and being in communication with the outlet, said inlet connection provided with a valve in operative connection with said plunger mechanism having a reaction therefrom, a power applying means coacting with said plunger mechanism, and the said valve including a modulating valve in communication with the inlet for control of the power, said power applying portion and work-performing portion being connected to move substantially together merely by the hydraulic pressure controlled by the modulating valve.

27. A unitary power unit, having a hydraulic inlet, adapted to apply a pressure, a modulating.

outlet and adapted to 'be moved in the other direction by the spring accumulated pressure. 28. A power unit having a hydraulic inlet connection, an inlet chamber connected thereto, a hydraulic outlet connection, a plunger adapted to be moved in one direction by the liquid received from one of said connections, said plunger having a piston rod passing through said chamber, and a piston, a spring exerting a force on the piston to move the plunger in a direction opposite to the direction in which it is urged by the liquid from said inlet connection and a modulating valve connected to the inlet.

29. In combination, a manual means, a part, a unitary power means for moving said part to perform work and a fluid pressure means lncluddraulically to the said part and the other conoperate a part to perform work, and the other of nected hydraulically to the manual means, the unitary power means being mounted to operate without thrust from the manual means and without thrust from said part.

30. In combination, a power unit provided with a hydraulic inlet connection, a pressure-applying cylindrical plunger constituting means to apply pressure for work performance, having a rod operatively connected to the plunger, a power operated element having a movable wall operatively connected to said rod, adapted to deliver a said plunger and as determined by the modulate range of hydraulic pressures than the hydraulic pressure received from said inlet connection, having a rod and piston operatively connected to the plunger, 2. cylinder for said piston closed at both ends, and a modulating valve on said inlet controlling the position of plunger travel coordinately with the variations of the pressure and volume or the liquid received from said inlet and delivered by said plunger and as determined by the modulating valve.

32. In combination, a power unit comprising a power operated plunger means having a pressureapplying piston and cylinder, adapted to operate an accessory, an outlet connection from the pressure-applying piston on the cylinder leading to the accessory for operating the same, a power operated movable wall connected to the pressureapplying piston for moving the same, a hydraulic inlet connection on the unit between the movable wall and said piston for controlling the pressure applied from said wall, by means of said piston, a modulating valve controlling the power applied by'means of said inlet, Said plunger means being in communication with the inlet and movable by the increase of volume and pressure of liquid received from said inlet to coordinately control the position of said piston according to said increase of volume, p

' EDWARD A. ROCKWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Number Name Date 1,571,517 ,Fornaca. Feb. 2, 1926.

1,478 832 Neal Dec. 25, 1923 1,794,237 Mackey Feb. 24, 1931 1,794,461 Jackson Mar. 3, 1931 2,029,070 Higbee Jan. 23, 1936 2,199,335 Ace et al Feb. 6, 1940 2,042,392 Dewandre May 26, 1936 2,136,638 Rockwell Nov. 15, 1938 1 2,144,020, Hunt Jan, 17, 1939 1,903,973 Boughton Apr. 18, 1933 2,074,730 .Kerr Mar, 23, 1937 2,106.758 Oliver Feb. 1, 1936 2,056,223 Stout Oct, 6, 1936 960,946 Clair July 23, 1907 1,552,584 Sumner Sept. 8,1925 1,546,394 Sumner Aug. 4, 1925 2,037,756 Bragg et a1. Apr. 21, 1936 1 1,962,857 Cash June: 12, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 811,009 French Apr. 5, 1937 777,293

French Feb, 15, 1935 

